Support structure for collapsible shelters



Sept. 18, 1962 R. w. ESHELMAN 3,054,413

SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR COLLAPSIBLE SHELTERS Filed Feb. 26, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR.

ROBERT W. ESHELMAN ATTOR Y Sept. 18, 1962 R. w. ESHELMAN 3,054,413

SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR COLLAPSIBLE SHELTER-S 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 26, 1960 ELIE-.3

IIII IIII I INVENTOR.

ROBERT W. ESHELMAN 0, 7% E544 ATTORNE grates atent fice 3,054,413 SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR COLLAPSIBLE SHELTERS Robert W. Eshehnan, Ann Arbor, Mich, assignor to King-Seeley Thermos (30., a corporation of Michigan Filed Feb. 26, 1960, Ser. No. 11,275 Claims. ((31. 135-4) This invention relates to improvements in collapsible shelters, and particularly to an improved support structure for such shelters.

In shelters of the type with which the present invention is concerned, a flexible cover is arranged to be distended and supported by resilient ribs to form an enclosure. The ribs are pivotally attached to a central connecting unit. When the shelter is collapsed, the ribs are straight and approximately parallel to each other, with the cover folded between the ribs. When the shelter is erected, the ribs are pivoted and stressed, usually in arcuate shape, into distending relation to the cover.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved support structure for shelters of the foregoing type that requires a minimum of manipulation for erecting and collapsing the structure, and that is sturdy and reliable yet simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

It is another object of the invention to provide a shelter support including a connecting and locking means for support ribs that will insure maximum reliability and simplicity of maintenance by providing for independent attachment and for replacement of individual support ribs.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a locking head for the resilient ribs of a collapsible shelter support assembly, wherein the act of stressing the ribs during assembly will result directly in locking them in stressed relation to the cover without further manipulation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be come apparent during the course of the following description of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a collapsible shelter embodying the invention, with portions of the cover and ribs omitted and with certain parts exaggerated to bring out the construction more clearly;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the complete connector and locking head assembly for the shelter shown in FIGURE 1, being taken partly in section along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal section view of the assembly of FIGURE 2, taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical section view of the lower portion of the assembly of FIGURE 2, taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation of the connector and locking head assembly, showing the parts in position as when the shelter is collapsed,

FIGURE 6 is a side elevation of a shelter embodying the invention, partly in section, with the ribs partly bowed as during the erection of the shelter, and with the cover being omitted except for its upper central portion where it is attached to the connector and locking head.

Referring to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, there is shown a collapsible shelter assembly embodying the invention and comprising a frame structure including a plurality of support ribs 10, a rib connector and locking head 12, and a flexible cover 14 of fabric or other suitable material. In the present schematic illustration, the top central portion 16 of the cover 14 is shown somewhat lower than it would normally be in actual practice, in order to show the rib connector and locking head 12 on an exaggerated scale relative to the remainder of the assembly.

The cover 14 is provided externally with elongated,

tubular, open-ended pockets 18 for receiving the ribs 10. The lower ends of the ribs, after passing through the pockets 18, preferably pass through grommets 20 in a ground cover or floor 22 of suitable flexible material. The floor 22 is sewn or otherwise secured to the lower edges of the sides of the shelter. A door opening 24 closed by a slide fastener 26 and a window opening 28 closed by a flap 30 may also be provided.

When the shelter is erected in position for use as in FIGURE 1, the cover 14 is held distended in hemispherical shape by arcuate stressing of the support ribs 10, which are connected together and locked in stressed position at the top center of the assembly by means of the connector and locking head 12.

As shown in detail in FIGURES 2 and 3, the rib connector portion of the locking head 12 comprises three sectored discs 32, 33, 34. These three discs have matching, circumferentially-spaced, radial slot-s 36 for accommodating the end portions 38 of the ribs 10. These end portions 38 may comprise rigid sleeves in which the resilient ribs are inserted, or the ribs may themselves extend to the connector 12, depending on the rib material. In this instance, the sleeve construction is shown.

As best seen in FIGURE 3, additional chordal slots 40 are provided in the intermediate disc 33 for receiving pivot pins 42. The chordal slots 43 are spaced slightly inwardly from the periphery of the disc 33 and intersect the radial slots 36 at right angles thereto. The pivot pins 42 extend through the end portions 38 of the rib sleeves or ribs at right angles thereto near the ends thereof. 7

The intermediate and lower discs, 33 and'32, respectively, have corresponding central openings 44 to fit snugly on a tubular hub 46, being seated against a shoulder 48 formed by a portion 50 of reduced outside diameter at the upper end of the hub. The discs 32, 33 are locked in place on the hub 46, with their radial slots 36 in registry, as by swaging over a protruding end portion 52 of the hub.

The upper disc 34 has a somewhat larger central opening 54 than the intermediate and lower discs 33, 32, to accommodate the swaged end 52 of the hub, and is provided with a plurality of tapped holes 58 for receiving assembly screws 60 inserted through registering holes 62 in the lower and intermediate discs 32, 33.

When the three discs 32-34 are clamped together by the screws 6%), they form a connector assembly on the hub 46 in which the upper and lower discs 34, 32 cooperate with the chordal slots 44) in the intermediate disc 33 to form passages enclosing the pivot pins 42, thereby to provide a pivotal mounting for the rib end portions 38. It will be seen that this provides independent and readily replaceable connections for each rib, for ease of assembly and for individual rib replacement if needed.

The disc assembly hub 46 also serves as a bearing for an axially slidable shaft 64 which extends through the hub 46 from a locking abutment plate 66. This plate 66 is substantially coextensive with the discs 32-34 and is adapted to be locked in position close to the upper disc 34, as in FIGURE 2, to hold the rib end portions 38 aligned in the plane of the disc assembly. When the plate 66 is spaced from the disc assembly, the rib end portions 38 are free to pivot out of the plane of the disc assembly as shown in FIGURE 5.

For holding the plate 66 in rib locking position, latch means 68 are mounted on the lower end of the shaft 64. The latch means 68 includes an arm 70 that is located in the space provided by cutting away a longitudinal portion of approximately half the cross section of the shaft. The latch arm 70 is pivoted on a bearing and spacer sleeve 72 on a screw 74 that is threaded into the flat face 3; 76 provided on the sectioned portion of the shaft 64.

When the plate 66 is in unlocked position, spaced from the disc assembly 32-34, the latch arm 70 is axially aligned with the shaft 64 and enclosed by the hub 46. Under these conditions, the latch 70 does not interfere with axial movement of the shaft 64.

A spring 78 extends from a retaining groove 80 on the shaft 64 and passes around the pivot sleeve 72 to press against the arm 70, acting to urge the arm 76 to swing out of axial alignment with the shaft 64. Accordingly, when the shaft 64 is moved longitudinally to. bring the abutment plate 66 into locking position adjacent to the disc assembly, the latch arm 79 is moved out of the hub 46 and freed for rotation by the spring 78, to the limit permitted by a notch 82 which is cut in the upper end of the arm 76 for holding engagement with the lower end of the hub 46. Thus, when the plate 66 is moved into locking position, the latch arm 78 will be carried out of the hub 46 by axial movement of the shaft 64, thereby releasing the latch arm 79 and permitting the notched portion 82 to engage the hub end. In turn, this will hold the plate 66 in rib locking position.

A handle 84 extending laterally on the latch arm 70 at the lower end thereof facilitates pulling downwardly on the head assembly 12 to overcome the stress of the ribs against the abutment plate 66, thereby facilitating moving the arm 70 into alignment with the shaft 64 to release the shaft for axial movement through the hub 46.

The hub 46 also extends through a grommet 86 in the top center section 16 of the supported fabric, with the grommet 86 being retained loosely in position on, the hub, beneath the disc assembly 3234, by a snap ring 88 which is fitted into a circumferential groove 90 on the hub.

When a shelter of the type to which the present invention is directed is in collapsed condition, the rib ends 38 all Will be substantially parallel to each other as in FIG- URE 5, with the fabric folded therebetween and hanging loosely from the hub 46. The locking plate 66 will be spaced from the disc assembly 3234 and the ribs will be free to pivot.

With the parts in this position, and with the lower ends of the ribs 10 resting on any suitable surface such as against the ground, downward pressure applied on the locking plate 66 with the hand will cause the plate to engage the upper ends of the ribs 10, thereby forcing the ribs to bow outwardly away from each other as indicated in FIGURE 6, during which time the end portions 38 of the ribs will pivot toward the plane of the connector disc assembly 32-34. Additional pressure on the abutment plate will flex the ribs ultimately into a spherically-shaped cage-like structure, at which point the end portions of the ribs will be coplanar with the disc assembly and the abutment plate will be close to the upper disc. At this point, and without any other or further action by the operator, the latch arm 70 will swing outwardly into locking position under the forces of the spring 78, as previously described, holding the plate 66 securely against the longitudinally aligned rib end sections against the force of the stressed ribs pressing against the underside of the plate.

The entire assembly now can be moved away from the supporting surface, whereupon the resilience of the ribs will cause them to spring outward and distend the cover tautly approximately into a hemispherical shape, to be placed in the erected position shown in FIGURE 1.

To collapse the shelter, it is only necessary to pull down slightly on the latch handle 84 to relieve the pressure of the stressed ribs acting through the shaft 64 on the latch arm 70, so that the latch arm can be swung into alignment with the shaft. This will allow the stressed ribs to force the locking plate 66 upwardly away from the disc assembly, thereby allowing the end portion of the ribs to pivot out of the plane of the disc assembly and into their parallel configuration normal to collapse of the shelter.

From the foregoing, it will "be seen that the present invention provides a shelter support assembly in which, by virtue of the independent mounting of the individual ribs, it is a simple matter to assemble the ribs initially into the connector head and also to replace an individual rib and/ or pivot connection if one should become broken during use. It will further be seen the simplified locking assem bly greatly facilitates both erection and collapse of the shelter, since the locking action is automatic when the ribs are forced into their stressed position and since the stressed rods can be released by a simple downward and sideward motion of the latching handle.

It will be appreciated that the illustrative embodiment described herein is subject to modification within the scope of the appended claims and, accordingly, is to be taken as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In a shelter support structure of the type comprising a plurality of resilient ribs adapted to be stressed into arcuate shape for distending and supporting a flexible cover to form an enclosure, the improvement which comprises rib connecting and locking means including a disc, means pivotally attaching said ribs independently to said disc at circumferentially spaced points adjacent to the periphery of said disc to provide for pivotal movement of the end portions of said ribs into and out of the plane of said disc, said disc having a central opening therein, an elongated tubular hub extending through said disc assembly central opening and fixed at one end to said disc assembly, a shaft extending through said hub and movable axially therein, an abutment plate substantially coextensive with said disc and fixed at its center to said shaft and movable therewith between a first position wherein said plate is spaced from said disc to allow free pivotal movement of said rib end portions and a second position wherein said plate is closely adjacent to said disc to hold said rib end portions coplanar with said disc to stress said ribs into distending relation to said cover, and latch means c0- operable with said hub for locking said plate in said second position against the reactive force of said stressed ribs and including a latch element carried by said shaft and swingable into and out of axial alignment with said shaft.

2. In a shelter support structure of the type compris ing a plurality of resilient ribs adapted to be stressed into arcuate shape for distending and supporting a flexible cover to form an enclosure, the improvement which comprises rib connecting ;and locking means including a disc assembly, said assembly comprising three superimposed discs having registering circumferentially spaced slots extending radially inwardly from the periphery thereof for accommodating the end portions of said ribs, the intermediate one of said discs further having chordal slots therein intersecting said radial slots at right angles thereto intermediate the ends thereof, the others of said discs cooperating with said chordal slots to define passages for enclosing pivot pins extending through said rib end portions at right angles thereto to provide for pivotal movement of said rib end portions within said radial slots into and out of the plane of said disc assembly, said disc assembly having a central opening therein, a shaft extending through said central opening and movable axially relative to said disc assembly, an abutment plate substantially coextensive with said disc assembly and fixed at its center to said shaft and movable therewith between a first position wherein said plate is spaced from said disc assembly to allow free pivotal movement of said n'b end portions and a second position wherein said plate is closely adjacent to said disc assembly to hold said rib end portions coplanar with said disc assembly to stress said rib into distending relation to said cover, and latch means for locking said plate in said second position against the reactive force of said stressed ribs and including a latch element carried by said shaft and swingable into and out of alignment with said shaft.

3. In a support structure for a collapsible shelter of the type in which a distensible cover is adapted to be distended and supported in substantially hemispherical shape by a plurality of resilient ribs which are pivotally connected together at one end and adapted to be locked adjacent their pivot points into stressed, cover-distending position, the improvement which comprises rib connecting and locking means including a sectored disc assembly having circumferentially spaced radial slots therein extending inwardly from the periphery thereof, said slots each accommodating the end portion of one of said n'bs, said assembly further having internal chordal passages intersecting said radial slots at right angles thereto adjacent to said periphery for enclosing pivot pins extending through said rib end portions at right angles thereto, said disc assembly having a central opening extending therethrough, an elongated tubular hub extending through said disc assembly central opening and fixed at one end to said disc assembly, a shaft slidable axially in said hub, an abutment plate fixed to one end of said shaft and movable therewith between a first position wherein said plate is spaced from said disc assembly and a second position wherein said plate is closely adjacent to said disc assembly whereby to provide for free pivotal movement of said rib end portions on said pivot pins When said plate is in said first position and whereby to hold said rib end portions coplanar with said disc assembly when said plate is in said second position, latch means carried by said shaft and cooperable with said hub for locking said plate in said second position against the reactive force of said stressed ribs and including a latch element carried by said shaft and swingable into and out of alignment with said shaft.

4. In a support structure for a collapsible shelter of the type in which a distensible cover is adapted to be distended and supported in substantially hemispherical shape by a plurality of resilient ribs which are pivotally connected together at one end and adapted to be locked adjacent their pivot points into stressed, cover-distending positions, the improvement which comprises rib connecting and locking means including a sectored disc assembly having circumferentially spaced radial slots there in extending inwardly from the periphery thereof, said slots each accommodating the end portion of one of said ribs, said assembly further having internal chordal passages intersecting said radial slots at right angles thereto adjacent to said periphery for enclosing pivot pins extending through said rib end portions at right angles thereto, said disc assembly having a central opening extending therethrough, an elongated tubular hub extending through said disc assembly central opening and fixed at one end :to said disc assembly, a shaft slidable axially in said hub, an abutment plate substantially coextensive with said disc and fixed to one end of said shaft and moveable therewith between a first position wherein said plate is spaced from said disc assembly and a second position wherein said plate is closely adjacent to said disc aslatch means toward said latching engagement position.

5. In a support structure for ta collapsible shelter of the type in which a distensible cover is adapted to be distended and supported in substantially hemispherical shape by a plurality of resilient ribs which are pivotally connected together at one end and adapted to be locked adjacent their pivot points into stressed, cover-distending position, the improvement which comprises rib connecting and locking means including a sectored disc assembly having circumferentially spaced radial slots therein extending inwardly from the periphery thereof, said slots each accommodating the end portion of one of said ribs, said assembly further having internal chordal passages intersecting said radial slots at right angles thereto adjcent to said periphery for enclosing pivot pins extending through said rib end portions 'at right angles thereto, said disc assembly having a central opening extending there through, an elongated tubular hub extending through said disc assembly central opening and fixed at one end to said disc assembly, a shaft slidable axially in said hub,

an abutment plate fixed to one end of said shaft and movable therewith between a first position wherein said plate is spaced from said disc assembly and a second position wherein said plate is closely adjacent to said disc assembly whereby to provide for free pivotal movement of said rib end portions on said pivot pins when said plate is in said first position and whereby to hold said rib end portions coplanar with said disc assembly when said plate is in said second position, said shaft having a longitudinal section thereof cut away at the opposite end from said plate, latch means carried by said shaft and disposed within said cut away shaft portion and swingable relative to said shaft into latching engagement with the free end of said hub upon movement of said plate into said second position, and spring means coupled between said latch means and said shaft and urging said latch means toward latching engagement with said free end of said hub.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 14,655 Hartwell Apr. 15, 1856 987,469 Lewis Mar. 21, 1911 2,948,287 Rupert Aug. 9, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 579,505 Canada July 14, 1959 732,709 Great Britain June 29, 1955 

